Musicians on Saturday night turned up for a show at the Bingu International Convention Centre (Bicc) in Lilongwe to support Tay Grin.
The concert dubbed ‘From the Ashes’ was organised to raise money for the rapper, who lost K50 million worth of property in a fire accident at his Area 43 residence in Lilongwe.
The gates opened at 6pm and although it first seemed there would be low patronage, the momentum slowly built up as more people walked in.
The first to perform was Giddes Chalamanda.
Sitting on a red chair in the centre of the stage, the 97-year-old captivated the audience with his tracks such as Linny, Nthawi Zina and Agidesi.
Then he stood up briefly to dance, and Vice-President Michael Usi, who was in the audience, joined him on stage. From the word go, the performances promised a show worth the price of admission.
After Chalamanda, the stage was taken over by Temwah, who, together with her dancers, brought energetic vibes to the room.
Patrons cheered and danced along as she performed her hit songs like Tumeni, Ndili Kuti, Magulu and Yesu Wanga.
Before the main act on the night, jazz king Lawi also performed. He dished out songs such as Therere, Lilongwe and Amaona Kuchedwa.
Then it was time for Tay Grin. He came on stage with his traditional nyau dancers and local drummers certifying his cultural ambassador title.
After the show, the event’s main organiser Lawi said it was encouraging to see artists come together to support a collegue in a difficult time.
“This has been a success and shifts the narrative for the industry. We need to be there for our own, and tonight fellow artists and fans just proved that,” he said.
Tay Grin appreciated his colleagues and fans for the support, saying he does not take it for granted. He also acknowledged the presence of the Veep.
“Today was a beautiful day, and I had a good time surrounded by my fans and friends. It was a breather after the incident that happened. The VP was here tonight I’m grateful. This is a symbol of unity,” he said.
